Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

1-1-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences

First Advisor

Michael A. Repka

Second Advisor

Sean Jo

Third Advisor

Eman Ashour

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is a widely used technique to manufacture drug delivery systems due to its precision, efficiency, and tailored prescription capability. Although fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the most commonly used technique in the pharmaceutical sciences, there are several limitations. Direct powder extrusion (DPE) 3D printing is a novel technique that was improved from traditional FDM. Material powder blends are fed into the cartridges of the 3D printer directly, without filament manufacturing, avoiding investigation and modification of filament property improvement. Chapter 1 introduces the fabrication of core-shell geometries for controlled-release tablets using direct powder extrusion 3D printing, demonstrating the potential of dual-nozzle channel printing to produce structured tablets. Chapter 2 builds upon the results of Chapter 1 by adding an additional drug depot layer outside the tablets to achieve pulsatile release. Chapter 3 aims to precisely control the outer shape of 3D printed dosage forms rather than printing traditional simple geometries. The structural parameters of the tablet's outer shape, regulated by mathematical formulas, can also predict the tablet's dissolution behavior. Overall, this research aims to explore the potential of using newer printing technologies and modeling approaches, elucidating the personalized and innovative potential of 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical field.

Available for download on Wednesday, October 07, 2026

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